A global recession and faltering art market did not make 2009 a great year to wriggle free of the art school institutional chrysalis
As partial recompense for a few, the New Contemporaries exhibition showcased the work of 47 newly-graduated art students, chosen through an open submission process by selectors Ellen Gallagher, Saskia Olde Wolbers, John Stezaker, and Wolfgang Tillmans.
With an extraordinary generosity of spirit, the selectors of the 2009 edition of New Contemporaries debated every artwork with gusto, intelligence and sensitivity. The final selection of work and artists is coherent, with layers of enquiry, inter-connection and reference.
“Much work this year plays with the role of description, of telling things as they are, or inventing things till they look at least real.”
- Sacha Craddock, Chair of the selection panel.
New Contemporaries (formerly Young Contemporaries) has a long and involved history dating back to the first exhibition of young graduates from Greater London Art Schools in 1949. Throughout its 60 year of existence it has identified serious artists from each generation and given them the opportunity to show for the first time. The premise remains the same today.
Artists selected this year: Adam Bainbridge, Myka Baum, Frances Blythe, Sam Burford, Amir Chasson, David Cochrane, Andrew Curtis, Jorge de la Garza, Nicolas Deshayes, Bee Emmott, Teresa Eng, Anna.M.R. Freeman, Felix Frith, Joseph Gower, Susie Green, Alexandra Handal, Richard Healy, Jung-Ouk Hong, Benjamin Jenner, Peiyuan Jiang, Michael Just, Dean Kissick, Paul Knight, Una Knox, Simone Koch, Rinat Kotler, Martina Lindqvist, Susanne Ludwig, Rachel Maclean, Francis Mason, Jack Newling, Marco Palmieri, Rebecca Parkin, Chinmoyi Patel, Johanna Piesniewski, Sam Plagerson, David Price, Konrad Pustola, Hannes Ribarits, Nick Smith, Christopher Thomas & Kristel Raesaar, Jonathan Trayte, Jack Vickridge, Amanda Wasielewski, Barbara Wolff, Freya Wright, Laura Zilionyte.
Previous Exhibition
BNC 2008, Club RowNext Exhibition
BNC 2009, Cornerhouse